Scripture Story Sketch Notes · Luke 22:31–34, 54–62
Peter’s Denial
“And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.” Luke 22:61
At the Last Supper, Jesus told Peter He had prayed that his faith would not fail. That night, Peter followed Jesus to the high priest’s house and, afraid, denied knowing Him three times. The rooster crowed, the Lord turned and looked at Peter, and Peter went out and wept.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: but I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Peter said he was ready to go with Him to prison and to death, but Jesus said Peter would deny Him three times before the cock crowed.
After Jesus was arrested and taken to the high priest’s house, “Peter followed afar off” and sat by a fire in the hall. A maid said, “This man was also with him,” and Peter answered, “Woman, I know him not.” Two more people said he was one of them, and Peter denied it each time. As he spoke, the cock crew. “And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter.” Peter remembered the Lord’s words, “and Peter went out, and wept bitterly.”
Who’s who
Jesus Christ: who prays for Peter and looks upon him
Peter: who denies knowing Him three times
A maid and two others: who recognize Peter by the fire
Where and when
In the courtyard of the high priest’s house in Jerusalem, the night Jesus was arrested.
Watch for the Savior
Watch how Jesus cares for Peter before and after he falls.
Eight stops from His prayer for Peter to Peter’s tears. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
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The story, plainly
Four scenes: the supper, the fire, the three denials and the tears. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1
Luke 22:31“that he may Meaning: shake hard to separate, as grain from chaff. you as wheat”
Luke 22:34“thou shalt Meaning: three times. deny”
Luke 22:55“when they had Meaning: lit; started. a fire”
Luke 22:59“another Meaning: insisted; said firmly.”
Luke 22:60“the Meaning: rooster. crew”
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Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from Church leaders, Church resources or outside sources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The archway, the steps, the fire, the lamp, the net, the rooster, the look, the tear and the prayer. Luke 22:54–62
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Where are you?
Following from a distance, afraid to be known, sorry, or strengthening others. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
Three voices and one look
Three people asked Peter about Jesus. Tap each card to see what was said, then write what His look might say to you.
“But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not.” Luke 22:32
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Their world, their words
A little background on sifting, the courtyard, the look and two Greek words helps the story come alive. Outside sources are labeled.
Church resource · Student manual
Sifted as wheat
In Luke 22:31, “the Greek pronoun translated as ‘you’ is plural, indicating that the Savior gave this warning to all His disciples.”5
He prayed for them all.
Church resource · Student manual
Still to be converted
President Dallin H. Oaks, quoted in the manual: “To testify is to know and to declare.”5
Conversion is becoming.
Church leader · President Freeman
Earlier that day
“I can’t help but wonder if Jesus was remembering the encouraging words He had spoken to Peter earlier that day.”4
The prayer behind the look.
Scripture · John 21
After the tears
After His Resurrection, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and told him, “Feed my sheep.”3
Peter said no three times. Jesus never said no to Peter.1,3
Word study · Greek
klaió κλαίω · “wept” (Luke 22:62)
Bible Hub: “to sob, i.e. Wail aloud.”7Outside · lexicon
Luke adds “bitterly.” These were tears of deep sorrow, and they turned Peter back toward the Lord.1
What the text does not say
Luke doesn’t say Jesus looked at Peter in anger. The scripture records only that He “turned, and looked upon Peter,” and Peter remembered.1 Jesus had already prayed “that thy faith fail not,” and after the Resurrection He gave Peter a great work to do.2,3
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Look to Him
He prayed for Peter before he fell, looked at him in his worst moment, and later gave him a great work.
“And maybe it took both the worst days and the best days for Peter to become who the Lord needed him to become.”
“Now is the time for each of us to work toward our personal conversion.”
President Dallin H. Oaks, quoted in the New Testament Student Manual5
Peter, at supper
He promised
“Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.” Luke 22:33
Jesus, at supper
He answered
“I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.” Luke 22:34
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Seek Him today
A question to ask in prayer
Lord, how dost Thou see me on my worst days? Luke 22:61
Ask, then remember: He prayed for Peter before Peter fell.
Try it today
One way to turn back to Him each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
0 of 7 today
This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days of turning back. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“Looked upon Peter.”
Read Luke 22:54–62 slowly. Picture the moment Jesus turns and looks across the courtyard. Then read Luke 22:32 and remember that He had already prayed for Peter. Luke 22:31–32
A verse to hold
Talk about it
What did Jesus pray for Peter at the supper?
Why do you think Peter followed “afar off”?
What happened when the rooster crowed?
How did Jesus help Peter after this night?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Church leader
President Emily Belle Freeman, “Best Days and Worst Days” (2026)
Peter’s best and worst days, and the look that may have carried strength.4
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
Peter’s Denial is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for June 7–13, 2027 (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22; John 18).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The words are in Luke 22:31–34 and 54–62; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
